Selston Parish

Selston Parish lies approximately 11 miles north west of the City of Nottingham, is located in
the District of Ashfield and is easily accessed from Junction 27 of the M1. The western
boundary of the parish follows the course of the River Erewash, which is also the County
boundary, whilst the M1 effectively forms the eastern boundary to the parish.

The population of the parish is approximately 12,500. It covers over 3,317 acres, is divided
into the three wards of Jacksdale, Selston and Underwood and is one of the largest
parishes in the country. Based on figures from the 2001 census, the population of Selston
parish is predominantly white at 98.9%.

The parish consists of a number of small to medium size villages, all of which have their
own characteristics. The largest of the villages is Selston, which has a population of 6,248
followed by Jacksdale 3,269 and Underwood with 2,955. Other smaller settlements
include Bagthorpe, Lower Bagthorpe, Jubilee, New Selston and Westwood.

Originally a farming settlement, the parish is located over part of Nottinghamshire’’s coal
seams and mining has played no small part in the growth of Selston as a whole. At the
height of coal production several pits were being worked in the parish, with many others
in close proximity such as Annesley Bentinck, Moorgreen, Eastwood, Pinxton and
Summit Colliery, Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Records show that in 1800, the population of the parish was 833, but one hundred years
later had risen to 7,000, mainly as a result of the mining trade.

The whole of Selston parish, along with much of Ashfield district has also been closely
associated with the textile trade. Up to the middle of the 19th century, with the invention
of the stocking frame, textile manufacture was the primary industry in the parish and
even more important than coal mining. By the 1960’s some 40 textile companies in the
Ashfield area employed no less than 60% of the female labour force and saw Ashfield
with one of the highest average incomes of any industrial area in the country. However,
from the 1970’s with both industries in terminal decline widespread unemployment
became the norm.

A ‘greening up’ of the area, together with extensive household growth during the 60’s, 70’s
and 80’s, has led to the parish becoming a dormitory settlement with few major
employers. As land values are still below those achieved around the City of Nottingham
there is currently much infill development.

The villages all retain a strong sense of identity and are all are very different.